The Amazing Grace of God

Recently I’ve been writing about how pale our “good works” are when compared to God’s. His works resulted in a universe with no boundaries, this planet earth filled with incredible wonders to behold, and billions of human beings all created in His image. Yet Isaiah 64:6 offers us a big dose of harsh reality: “We are all like one who is unclean, all our so-called righteous acts are like a menstrual rag in Your sight.“

It’s enough to make a Christian want to stop performing “righteous deeds” altogether, something some would say I’m guilty of promoting. But, as most Reformed theologians agree, that’s not the case. Calvin wrote, “They can no longer accuse us of being enemies to good works. We reject the notion of justification by works, not that no good works may be done, or that those which are performed may be denied being good, but that we may neither confide in them, nor glory in them, nor ascribe salvation to them.”

Under the old covenant observing all of God’s laws was mandatory. God had delivered those laws to Moses, and they were literally set in stone. God then informed the Israelites that His blessings were conditional: “If you obey these ordinances and are careful to do them, the LORD your God will faithfully keep covenant with you as He promised your ancestors. He will love and bless you…” (Deuteronomy 7:12-13).

God then doubled down. “Now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you except to revere Him, to obey all His commandments, to love Him, to serve Him with all your mind and being… You must love the LORD your God and do what He requires; keep His statutes, ordinances, and commandments at all times“ (Deuteronomy 10:12, 11:1). Of course, history clearly shows that none of His chosen people could comply then or now. Not one.

Calvin wrote, “The condition of perfect obedience to the law, on which they depended, and in consequence of which alone they are to be fulfilled, will never be performed.” But God is a merciful sovereign. Knowing our anemic works would never measure up, He sent His Son to redeem us and with Him the covenant of grace. “We know that no one is justified by the works of the law, but by the faithfulness of Jesus Christ. And we’ve come to believe in Him so that we may be justified by the faithfulness of Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified“ (Galatians 2:16).

I often think about how blessed I am to be owned by Jesus. To call His grace amazing doesn’t come close to describing it. Not only has He made faith alone the only thing necessary for eternal life, but He’s also given my faith to me! Not only has He gone to prepare a place for me in heaven, but He’s also made me an heir to all that’s His! “By His great mercy He gave us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, that is, into an inheritance imperishable, undefiled, and unfading. It’s reserved for you in heaven…” (1 Peter 1:3-4).

When I consider what lies in store for me, I’m way beyond feeling mere thankfulness. Other Christians are, too. Philip Yancey wrote, “I escape the force of spiritual ‘gravity’ when I begin to see myself as a sinner who cannot please God by any method of self-improvement or self-enlargement. Only then can I turn to God for outside help – for grace – and to my amazement I learn that a holy God already loves me despite my defects. I escape the force of gravity again when I recognize my neighbors also as sinners, loved by God.”

Our Savior answered the Pharisees’ “gotcha” question of “Which commandment in the law is the greatest?“ with “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. The second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the law and the prophets depend on these two commandments“ (Matthew 22:36-40).

Obviously, we’re always happy to be good to ourselves. But, as Christ-followers, we’re expected to do the same to others. Not for our own glory, but for the glory of the One who saved us from the death penalty our sins merit.

How do we properly honor and worship our Savior who released us from the impossible task of perfectly obeying God’s laws? The Bible tells us how: “LORD, who may be a guest in Your home? Who may live on Your holy hill? He that walks uprightly and works righteousness“ (Psalm 15:1-2). The prophet Isaiah taught it’s “the one who lives uprightly and speaks honestly; who refuses to profit from oppressive measures and rejects a bribe; who doesn’t plot violent crimes and doesn’t seek to harm others“ (33:15).

Christ stated it simply: “Treat others in the same way that you would want them to treat you“ (Luke 6:31). That means, to the best of your ability, do “good deeds” in the name of Christ. Calvin wrote that God will “…in His paternal benignity and indulgence, overlook the intrinsic worth of these works, and exalt them to such honor that He esteems them of some degree of value.”

Brennan Manning wrote, “Scripture suggests the essence of the divine nature is compassion and that the heart of God is defined by tenderness. To follow Jesus in His ministry of compassion defines the biblical meaning of being perfect as the Heavenly Father is perfect.”

Never forget how much God loves His adopted children. Richard Foster wrote, “No act goes unnoticed, no matter how insignificant or small. A cup of cold water is enough to put tears in the eyes of God. Like the proud mother who’s thrilled to receive a bouquet of wilted dandelions from her child, so God celebrates our feeble expressions of gratitude.” Beautifully put.

It’s Not Easy Being Meek

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth“ (Matthew 5:5). Jesus’ third Beatitude presents a challenge because a meek demeanor doesn’t come easily in a world where aggressive people dominate. Previously I described a meek person as humble, gentle and patient. Add to those traits forgiving and content.

In the Celebrate Recovery ministry we’ve found convincing some folks they must forgive those who’ve done them great harm (physically and/or emotionally) to be tough sledding. They feel God’s asking too much of them. However, forgiveness isn’t optional. Christ made that clear: “If you forgive others their sins, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you don’t forgive others, your Father will not forgive you your sins“ (Matthew 6:14-15).

Those words were spoken right after He delivered what’s known as “The Lord’s Prayer” wherein we ask God to, “…forgive us our debts, as we ourselves have forgiven our debtors“ (Matthew 6:12). Sinclair Ferguson wrote, “The man who mouths the phrase ‘forgive us our debts,’ but won’t forgive others their debts, hasn’t begun to understand the weight of his own sin. If he did, in light of it being forgiven, he’d be prepared to forgive his brother ‘seventy-seven times‘ (Matthew 18:22).

J.I. Packer commented, “Those who hope for God’s forgiveness must be able to tell Him they’ve forgiven their debtors. This isn’t a matter of earning forgiveness by works, but of qualifying for it by repentance. Repentance – change of mind – makes mercy and forbearance central to one’s new lifestyle… One whose only hope is that God won’t hold his faults against him forfeits his right to hold others’ faults against them.”

To forgive is to love like Christ. James S. Stewart wrote, “What Jesus meant by love was a spirit that never harbors a grudge, because it’s much too big for that kind of pettiness. It always discovers the best in men, because it can see underground; full of understanding, because it’s been through hard places itself; wonderfully patient, because it has a great hope at its heart; utterly pure, because it knows God.”

Calvin recommended taking the high road: “To love those that hate us, to render good for evil, and blessings for cursing, remembering that we’re not to reflect on the wickedness of men, but look to the image of God in them, an image which, covering and obliterating their faults, should by its beauty and dignity allure us to love and embrace them.”

The meek are content. Spurgeon wrote, “The meek-spirited man isn’t ambitious; he’s satisfied with what God provides for him. He’s content with what he has. Whatever happens to him, seeing that his times are in God’s hand, it’s well with him in the best and most emphatic sense.”

Paul’s attitude should be that of all Christians: “I’ve learned to be content in any circumstance. I’ve experienced times of need and times of abundance. In any and every circumstance I’ve learned the secret of contentment, whether I go satisfied or hungry, have plenty or nothing“ (Philippians 4:11-12).

It’s definitely not easy being meek. Spurgeon preached, “There are some people who are very gentle and meek as long as nobody tries them. We’re all quite good-tempered while we have our own way, but true meekness, which is a work of grace, will stand the fire of persecution and endure the test of enmity, cruelty, and wrong, even as the meekness of Christ did upon the cross of Calvary.”

Each Beatitude has a promise attached. As for the meek, “…they shall inherit the earth.” For the longest time I wondered why anybody would deem inheriting this fallen planet God has cursed a blessing. But I finally realized Jesus was looking ahead to when there’ll be “…a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and earth had ceased to exist…” (Revelation 21:1). In other words, faithful believers are destined to dwell in a fully restored Eden eternally.

David wrote, “The meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace“ (Psalm 37:11). Spurgeon commented, “After this earth has been purified by fire, after God has burned the works of men to ashes, and after every trace of corrupt humanity has been consumed by fervent heat, then this earth will be fitted up again, angels will descend with new songs to sing, and the New Jerusalem will come down out of heaven from God in all her glory.”

Stewart wrote, “When man has done everything man can do to build the everlasting Kingdom, it’s God, and God alone, who can make that Kingdom perfect; that somehow and somewhere, in ways beyond our present comprehension, God’s going to come breaking in triumphantly.”

Now that’s a future worth waiting patiently for. Imagine a world without sin! It’s coming – soon. Ferguson wrote, “One day the sovereign rule of Jesus will be seen publicly. For the moment, it’s seen only through the eyes of faith. But because it is seen by the eyes of faith, the people of God already have the assurance that this earth belongs to Christ; He’s won it back for His own.”

On that glorious day when our Lord returns the meek will no longer be regarded as the misguided doormats of the world. On the contrary, the meek will be its conquerors as well as the new earth’s grateful stewards. We’ll enjoy everything, including the literal presence of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. “He’ll live among them, and they’ll be His people, and God Himself will be with them“ (Revelation 21:3).

This doesn’t mean we’re to stop spreading the gospel in the meantime. Heaven forbid! Souls are at stake. John MacArthur preached, “The future of the unrighteous and the righteous could hardly be more starkly different. The time to prepare for judgment is now. The day of salvation is now. Those who wait until Christ returns will find it’s already too late. We don’t know the day or hour of His return. But the time is fast approaching. It’s time to get ready.”

Honoring Our Leaders

The Bible says Christians are to “Honor all people, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor” (1 Peter 2:17).  That last command seems odd since Nero, the infamous Christian-slaughtering tyrant, was the Roman emperor when Peter penned that verse.  Paul went even further: “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities.  For there’s no authority except by God’s appointment, and the authorities that exist have been instituted by God” (Romans 13:1).

Those two passages were hard to take in the 1^st century and no less difficult 20 centuries later.  It’s no secret that this fallen planet is becoming increasingly hostile to those who uphold traditional Judeo-Christian morals.  Secular society now openly mocks and belittles people who consider God’s Word the inerrant standard of truth, labeling them bigots, racists, and homophobic deplorables.  Honoring political leaders who encourage that kind of unmerited denigration and persecution is a challenge, to say the least.

Due to my theological viewpoint being decidedly “reformed,” I believe God rules absolutely sovereign over everything in existence and has ordained all that takes place in His infinite creation.  Furthermore, I deem that if He’s not in complete control then He isn’t really God Almighty and I’d be foolish to trust in Him.  As R.C. Sproul opined, “If there’s one single molecule in this universe running around loose, totally free of God’s sovereignty, then we have no guarantee that a single promise of God will ever be fulfilled.”

I’ve learned that “my own understanding” of God’s ways is seriously limited.  No matter how chaotic, violent, and evil things get on earth, God’s will is being done, and “all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).  While we instinctively yearn to retaliate against those who hurt and misrepresent us, Jesus said “love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44).  Few things are harder.

Ian Hamilton wrote, “We’re to live remembering it’s God the sovereign Lord who raises up and who brings down.  [Our leaders] are where they are not ultimately because they were voted into power, but because the living God appointed them to their respective positions.”  It’s reasonable to conclude that God’s installation of horrible and/or inept leaders is one of the ways He pours out His wrath on nations that have turned away from Him.

Now, I’m not saying Christians should meekly kowtow to mandates that run contrary to the moral laws found in the Scriptures.  Not at all.  Yet extremism is always unproductive and must be avoided.  In this matter, there are two kinds: Christians who adamantly refuse to recognize any human authority and those who let human authority always take precedence over God’s out of fear of harsh reprisals.

So how does a Christian “honor” their all-too-human leaders?  First, by accepting that God’s the source of all human authority and that both good and bad leaders were predestined to be elevated into high positions according to His perfect will.  Thus, if I don’t submit to governmental authority I fail to submit to God’s authority and that qualifies as disobedience.

Second, by displaying Christlike behavior, attitude and mannerisms.  We’re to show respect for those whom God chose to lead us.  We’re to remain genuinely humble.  We’re to commit ourselves to doing everything Jesus told us to do in His Sermon on the Mount (See chapters 5-7 in Matthew for clarification) and to “treat others in the same way that you would want them to treat you” (Luke 6:31).

But, as Voddie Baucham recently preached, “We cannot submit to authorities that require what God forbids or forbid what God requires.”  What’s a believer to do?  Paul provided instructions: “First of all, I urge that requests, prayers, intercessions, and thanks be offered on behalf of all people, even for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life in all godliness and dignity” (1 Timothy 2:1-2).

Does that mean we say a few prayers and then “go with the flow?”  No!  We boldly take the next step by appealing to the authorities via the means provided.  The USA is a constitutional representative republic.  Therefore, we have elected officials whose job it is to voice our disapproval in Congress.  We have to get involved and tell them what we prefer.

If that doesn’t work we must confront the authorities with the strongest weapon we have – the truth.  Americans have the right to publicly gather and protest peacefully.  Martin Luther King spearheaded a non-violent movement that was highly effective in correcting many long-standing wrongs.

The final step is defiance.  One can discover several examples of it in the Bible.  When Nebuchadnezzar insisted everybody in Babylon grovel and worship his golden idol Shadrack, Meshack and Abednego all refused.  They told the king, “We don’t serve your gods…” (Daniel 3:18).  Their sentence was a fiery death but God miraculously made them fireproof.

Moses grew up and led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt because his mother defied Pharoah’s strict decree that all male Hebrew babies be drowned in the Nile.  Daniel refused to stop praying to the God of Abraham so King Darius had him tossed into a lion’s den.  God rescued him.

But He doesn’t always do that.  Every one of the apostles was executed for their convictions. Over the centuries hundreds of thousands of Christian martyrs have opted to be killed rather than deny their belief in Jesus.  Our Lord taught us, “Whoever doesn’t take up his cross and follow me isn’t worthy of me.  Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life because of me will find it” (Matthew 10:38-39).

I can only watch in horror as this depraved world’s hatred toward Christians continues to increase exponentially.  If I’m around long enough I expect there’ll come a day when I’m forced to choose between my life or my faith.  It’ll be a no-brainer.  Jesus died for me.  I’ll willingly die for Him.

Trust and Obey

Paul begins and ends the book of Romans expressing that it’s our belief in Jesus Christ that’ll “…bring about the obedience of faith” (1:5 & 16:26).  Therefore knowing what the obedience of faith entails is important.  Ian Hamilton wrote, “Faith in Jesus Christ initiates a believer into a life of obedience to Jesus Christ,” then adds the caveat, “Where there’s no heart obedience to Christ, there can be no saving faith in Christ.”

Jesus didn’t beat around the bush.  He said, “If you love me, you’ll obey my commandments” (John 14:15).  There are two things to understand: (1) Genuine love for Christ can only come from a heart regenerated by the Holy Spirit and (2) obeying His commandments isn’t easy.  The bar He set is high and the path is narrow.  However, not everyone wants to obey Him. Usually, because they have no trust in Him.

About trusting in Christ the Bible is candid: “I lay in Zion a stone, a chosen and priceless cornerstone, and whoever believes in Him will never be put to shame.  So you who believe see His value, but for those who do not believe, the stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone, and a stumbling-stone and a rock to trip over.  They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do” (1 Peter 2:6-8).

Again we see the Scriptures affirming that God predestined some to be “children of light” and some to be “children of darkness.”  And only God knows the difference.  All we have any right to determine (through observing a professed Christian’s actions) is if they consistently obey Jesus’ commandments.

Concerning the essential “trust-in-Jesus-factor,” it’s firmly established in the Bible.  Christ is confirmed as being our divine priest, prophet, and king.  In the role of priest, He atoned for all our sins and “is the One who died (and more than that, He was raised), who is at the right hand of God, and who also is interceding for us” (Romans 8:34).  Jesus is our strong defender, protector, and only hope for salvation.

As our prophet, He’s given to mankind all the spiritual knowledge sufficient to trust and obey Him.  Christ is “The Word.”  “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was fully God.  The Word was with God in the beginning.  All things were created by Him, and apart from Him not one thing was created that has been created.  In Him was life, and the life was the light of mankind” (John 1:1-4).  (I shared those verses with an unbeliever recently.  He called them “nonsense.”  Sadly, he’s spiritually blind and cannot see.)

As our king, Jesus reigns over the universe He created.  And the souls the Father gave Him belong to Him.  “Do you not know your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who’s in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?  For you were bought at a price” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).  That steep price was paid in Christ’s precious blood.

Thus, He’s our priest, prophet, and king.  No more titles are required for Jesus to merit and receive our unwavering trust and obedience.  Because of His selfless sacrifice we owe Him no less than our all-encompassing “believing obedience.”  John MacArthur wrote, “When we call ourselves Christians, we proclaim to the world that everything about us, including our very self-identity, is found in Jesus Christ because we’ve denied ourselves in order to follow and obey Him.  He’s both our Savior and our Sovereign, and our lives center on pleasing Him.”

There are two kinds of believing obedience to be cognizant of: legal and evangelical.  The former is fostered by a yearning to earn extra credit with God and it manifests out of a fearful heart, not a loving one.  Hamilton commented, “It’s duteous without being truly dutiful.”  The latter’s fueled by a transformed heart overflowing with gratitude and Christ-like love.

Humans have proved throughout history that we’re not instinctively inclined to be obedient creatures.  Only the indwelling Holy Spirit can change us into people who desire to obey Jesus’ commands.  “Now by this we know we’ve come to know God: if we keep His commandments.  The one who says, ‘I’ve come to know God’ and yet doesn’t keep His commandments is a liar, and the truth isn’t in him” (1 John 2:3-5).  Our faith is proven genuine by our obedience.

Charles Spurgeon preached, “True love shows itself in obedience.  If I love Jesus, I’ll do as He bids me.  This is His chosen proof of my love, and I’m sure, if I love Him, I’ll keep His commandments.  …We can do anything for those we love, and if we love Jesus, no burden will be heavy, no difficulty will be great.”

John Calvin wrote, “The Lord, in delivering a perfect rule of righteousness, has reduced it in all its parts to His mere will, and in this way has shown there’s nothing more acceptable to Him than obedience.”  Augustine opined that obedience is “the source of all virtues.”

I used to think I had to summon the will to obey Christ of my own volition.  Jerry Bridges, in The Discipline of Grace, confessed, “I knew nothing of God’s grace in enabling me to live the Christian life.  I thought it was all by sheer grit and willpower.  …Just as importantly, I understood little of His forgiving grace through the blood of Christ.  So I felt both guilty and helpless – guilty because of recurring sin patterns in my life and helpless to do anything about them.”  I could relate.

Memorize these words from Jesus: “Apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).  Nothing! Now, I always knew I couldn’t redeem myself.  Yet I mistakenly thought generating repentance, trust, and obedience were solely my responsibility.  But the Bible teaches otherwise.  I’ve learned to pray daily for the wherewithal to become more repentant, trusting, and obedient for, as the Psalmist wrote, “My help comes from the LORD” (121:2).

The Not Do’s

Christ-followers know the fundamental “do’s” by heart.  The most important being, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind” and “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37,39).  We learn the rest from reading the Scriptures, diligently studying our Savior’s life and patterning ours after His in all respects.

Does that mean the more faithfully we emulate Jesus the less trouble we’ll encounter during our remaining time on earth?  No.  In fact, the opposite’s true.  We’re taught our salvation will be perfected “…through sufferings” (Hebrews 2:10); sufferings that include a kind of death.  “If we died with Him, we’ll also live with Him” (2 Timothy 2:11).  Authentic Christians are “always carrying around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our body” (2 Corinthians 4:10).

In other words, a believer’s sinful nature must die daily and we, along with the indwelling Holy Spirit, must be proactive partners in killing it.  The hardest part? It’ll always put up a fierce fight to survive and it won’t give up this side of heaven.  Therefore, along with knowing what we’re to do, we must learn what we’re not to do.

Like Christ, we’re not to allow impure motives to influence our thoughts and behavior.  “Everyone who has this hope focused on Him purifies himself (just as Jesus is pure)” (1 John 3:3).  Holiness is to be our goal.  We’re instructed, “…don’t comply with the evil urges you used to follow in your ignorance, but, like the Holy One who called you, become holy yourselves in all of your conduct” (1 Peter 1:14-15).

That’s a tall order but an order nonetheless.  We’re to be “…blameless and pure, children of God without blemish though you live in a crooked and perverse society, in which you shine as lights in the world…” (Philippians 2:15).  IMHO, we Christians had better get to shining.  The darkness is overwhelming these days.

We’re not to disobey our heavenly Father.  Rather, we’re to emulate our Lord, who “…humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death – even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:8).  Understand His obedience was always voluntary, never forced.  His joy was doing His Father’s will.  It should be ours, too.  A.W. Pink wrote, “Our obedience must be rendered cheerfully if it’s to be acceptable.  …Loveless obedience is of no value in the sight of God.”

We’re not to put ourselves first.  It’s all about putting Jesus first.  He said, “If anyone wants to become my follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.  For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” (Matthew 16:24-25).  May it never be said of us, “[They’re] busy with their own concerns, not those of Jesus Christ” Philippians 2:21).

We’re not to be lackadaisical in doing God’s will.  Christ was never lazy.  On the contrary, “He went around doing good” (Acts 10:38).  He once said, “My food’s to do the will of the one who sent me and to complete his work” (John 4:34).  We’re all living on borrowed time down here so Jesus urges all His disciples, “We must perform the deeds of the one who sent me as long as it’s daytime.  Night’s coming when no one can work” (John 9:4).  Christ is coming.  Don’t procrastinate spreading the gospel.

We’re not to cause offense or engage in “getting even.”  It’s said of our Savior, “When He was maligned, He didn’t answer back; when He suffered, He threatened no retaliation, but committed Himself to God who judges justly” (1 Peter 2:23).  This doesn’t mean be cowardly when our faith’s challenged, just smart.  Christ said, “I’m sending you out like sheep surrounded by wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves” (Matthew 10:16).

We’re not to be conceited about anything, especially over being one of God’s elect.  Jesus told us, “Learn from me, because I’m gentle and lowly in heart…” (Matthew 11:29).  Our demeanor should always be courteous, humble and kind towards everybody.  Christ said of Himself, “The Son of Man didn’t come to be served but to serve” (Matthew 20:28).  Like our Lord, we should be grateful servants.

“Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18).  That’s not just a slogan.  It’s a warning to all who let their ego puff up.  “Though the LORD is exalted, he takes note of the lowly, and recognizes the proud from far away” (Psalm 138:6).  Like Paul, we should consider ourselves “…the least of all saints” (Ephesians 3:8) and act accordingly.

We’re not to be discontented people.  Most of us, compared to Jesus, have it made in the shade.  He was born in a barn to poor parents of low social standing and, in His adulthood, had “no place to lay his head” (Luke 9:58).  Yet He didn’t grumble.  If we’re to imitate Christ we should never utter complaints about our lot in life.  “The one who says he resides in God ought himself to walk just as Jesus walked” (1 John 2:6).

All Christians benefit not only by mimicking what Jesus did, but also by what He didn’t do.  He didn’t react like we do because He wasn’t sinful like we are.  He’s better than all of us put together on our best day!  John Calvin wrote, “There’s nothing that troubles our consciences more than when we think that God is like ourselves.”

Dane Ortlund opined, “He isn’t like you.  Even the most intense of human love is but the faintest echo of heaven’s cascading abundance.  His heartfelt thoughts for you outstrip what you can conceive.”

J.I. Packer wrote, “Slippings and strayings there’ll be, but the everlasting arms are beneath us; we’ll be caught, rescued, restored.  Thus it appears the right context for discussing guidance is one of confidence in the God who’ll not let us ruin our souls.”  Christians, follow our perfect guide.

Follow the Leader

Jesus said “Follow me” directly thirteen times and indirectly at least nine times.  Those two words were enough to make Peter, Andrew, James, John and the other eight disciples drop what they were doing immediately to go with Him.  No pleading or coercion necessary.  Intuitively they sensed He was the long-awaited Messiah. Therefore everything else became secondary to following Him.  We all should do likewise.

Scriptures repeatedly confirm nobody’s a “free agent.”  Everyone’s either the property of Jesus or Satan.  The devil promises a wonderful time if they’ll let him remain their owner but he’s a liar.  A.W. Pink wrote, “Sin deceives.  Its deluded victims imagine they enjoy liberty while indulging their lusts of the flesh; but when they realize they’d better change their ways, they discover they’re bound by habits they can’t break.”

That’s why Christ’s command, “Come to me” (Matthew 11:28), is the greatest invitation anyone can ever hear.  It’s an appeal to those sick of being chained to their sinful nature and to those who’ve striven to be righteous but have become disheartened by their inability to consistently live up to the high standards holiness requires.

Jesus taught letting Him lead us is easier and the load we’ll carry when we do is much lighter than the one the devil gleefully weighs us down with.  It’s because our Savior’s instructions stem from His infinite, love-saturated wisdom.  They’re directives designed for the good of those who trust Him exclusively as their leader.  Conversely, Satan’s a cruel, narcissistic tyrant who seeks to gain power at any cost.

Unrepentant folks will claim following Christ is foolishness.  Being “gentle and lowly” is the last thing they aspire to be.  It chafes against the grain of their carnal instincts.  But for those who’ve surrendered their life to the Lord, imitating Jesus is an unmatched honor.  Depending on Him daily to be renewed by His grace, learning from Him the blessing of becoming meek and considerate, and relishing deepening their relationship with Him confirms His ways are, indeed, “pleasant” and “peaceful” (Proverbs 3:17).

How sad that many who profess to follow Christ complain obeying Him’s a burden!  One must assume they don’t really know their leader as well as they should.  Devoting oneself to doing His will is never a hardship.  Does that imply believers won’t suffer in this world?  Of course not.  “Now in fact all who want to live godly lives in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Timothy 3:12).  The devil hates losing one of his prisoners and he’ll do all he can to place obstacles in their path to sanctification.

Yet the worst enemy of the person whose heart’s been regenerated by the Holy Spirit isn’t Satan.  It’s the corrupt “old man” or “old woman” who still dwells inside them, unchanged.  Take it from someone all too familiar with fighting the inevitable, ongoing internal war that ensues.  “The flesh has desires opposed to the Spirit, and the Spirit has desires opposed to the flesh, for these are in opposition to each other, so that you cannot do what you want” (Galatians 5:17).

It’s a source of personal anguish that too often I fail to resist temptation, give in and indulge the selfish desires of my flesh.  Like Paul, I frequently cry out, “Wretched man that I am!  Who’ll rescue me from this body of death?  Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:24-25).  Why express gratitude?  Because without God’s love, mercy, patience and forgiveness I’d have no hope.

But, due to the glorious leader I follow, I’m not hopeless.  Pink wrote, “If the Christian uses diligently the means of God’s appointing, he’ll possess a peace which passes all understanding, and experience joys the worldling knows nothing about.  The world may frown and the devil rage against him, but an approving conscience, the smile of God, the communion with fellow believers, and the assurance of eternity with his Beloved, are ample compensation.”

I can only imagine the horrible nightmare I’d still be trapped inside if it wasn’t for my Savior who leads me ever forward despite my transgressions against Him.  He encourages me to do better and take life one day at a time. It’s His inexplicable acceptance of me that makes me want to please Him.  What a friend we have in Jesus!

Skeptics ask, “If Christ’s yoke’s easy to bear and His load light why do you still have a guilty conscience?”  Simple.  It’s because I love Him for what He’s already done for me and it hurts profoundly to let Him down in any way, shape or form.  Plus, I know without His strength I’d have no defense whatsoever against my sinful nature.  I realize that, sans Jesus, I “…can do nothing” (John 15:5).

I’ll do, to the best of my ability, whatever my courageous leader assigns me to accomplish.  I have faith He’ll provide what’s necessary for the task.  “We have such confidence in God through Christ.  Not that we’re adequate in ourselves to consider anything as if it were coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God…” (2 Corinthians 3:4-5).

Our amazing leader generously honors our devotion by granting us rest for our weary souls.  If we follow the leadings of the devil we’ll reap only misery and discontentment.  But when we deny the urges of our flesh and glorify Christ He gives us supernatural peace and joy.  Jesus doesn’t hold back blessings from those who belong to Him.  Rather, He generously guarantees them a “…rich reward” (Psalm 19:11).

How forgiving is our leader?  Dane Ortlund wrote, “If you’re in Christ – and only a soul in Christ would be troubled at offending Him – your waywardness doesn’t threaten your place in the love of God…  The hardest part’s been accomplished.  God’s already executed everything needed to secure your eternal happiness, and He did that while you were an orphan.  Nothing can now un-child you.  Not even you.”  A true Christian never follows any leader but Jesus.

Belief in Forgiveness (continued)

I’ve never blogged a “Part 2” but this section of the Apostles’ Creed: “I believe… in the forgiveness of sins” is so important it’s warranted. When all’s said and done, the bedrock of Christianity is the fact believers are pardoned from the penalty of their innumerable trespasses against God.

 

Previously I highlighted the difference between guilt and guilty feelings, as well as the role one’s conscience plays in determining righteous behavior. I also pointed out “…All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Therefore nobody’s entitled to consider themselves holier than anyone else. But only Christians have been forgiven by God.

 

Now, being saved doesn’t prevent Satan from attacking God’s elect. Dredging up past sins and insisting Jesus’ atoning sacrifice wasn’t enough to exonerate us are his “go-to” weapons. He purposely makes it hard to believe we’re forgiven. How’s he able to do that? Because “Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14). As such, he’s the most shameless liar there is.

 

Paul’s response to the devil’s schemes is priceless: “Who’ll bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It’s God who justifies” (Romans 8:33). Paul’s confidence in Christ’s sacrifice and God’s promise of forgiveness should empower every believer to strongly rebuke the devil. The Scriptures never leave us defenseless.

 

The same distinction we’re to recognize between authentic guilt and guilty feelings applies to forgiveness and feeling forgiven, as well. The former’s objective; the latter’s subjective. Real forgiveness is based on what God provides, not our emotional state. Though we may harbor legitimate regrets over what we’ve done, they don’t negate the fact God’s forgiven us.

 

The Bible assures us, “If we confess our sins, He’s faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Bank on that. So why do we doubt God’s forgiveness? Because it’s part of our sinful nature to hold grudges against those who’ve done us wrong. And, because it’s easier for us to superficially forgive than to forget, we figure God has the same problem!

 

We must bear in mind God’s forgiveness doesn’t imply innocence. We do sin. We are guilty. What God’s merciful forgiveness bestows is the unmatched peace and inner joy of knowing our sins have been eradicated from existence!

 

It’s also vital to understand forgiveness doesn’t come without a firm condition being met. The prerequisite for forgiveness is repentance. It’s not negotiable. God “…commands all people everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:30). Repentance literally means “a change of mind.” It involves cultivating an enlightened perspective on sin and being sincerely repentant when we fall short.

 

There’s actually two kinds of repentance – attrition and contrition. Attrition is repentance motivated primarily out of fear of being judged/punished. Folks who attempt to change their ways solely because they want to avoid God’s wrath usually find out down the line the alterations they made didn’t last.

 

On the other hand, contrition produces genuine sorrow for having sinned against God. We’re told in the New Testament it’s the only type of repentance God will accept. David cried out, “Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what’s evil in your sight, so that you’re proved right when you speak and justified when you judge” (Psalm 51:2-4).

 

Clearly, David wasn’t trying to downplay his sins. He knew his Heavenly Father was the One he’d offended most. His repentance was on the level, adding: “You don’t delight in sacrifice, or I’d bring it; you don’t take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise” (vv. 16-17).

 

We must all remind ourselves of what Jesus preached to the crowd: “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3). David was bankrupt in spirit. All who’ve sinned and seek forgiveness from God should be just as contrite as he was.

 

The respected theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer had lots to say about what he labeled “cheap grace.” There’s nothing cut-rate about the awful price our Savior paid to make redemption available. There are some, Christians included, who believe God grants everyone forgiveness whether they repent or not; that we’re all entitled to it automatically. They’ve evidently chosen to ignore what the Bible is adamant about – No repentance, no forgiveness.

 

Thus, our forgiving others isn’t optional. Jesus said, “…If you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive you” (Mark 11:26). There’s no “maybe” in that verse. We dare not plead for divine forgiveness unless we’re willing to humbly dispense it ourselves.

 

Of all the quotes I’ve collected, those concerning forgiveness are some of the most memorable. C.S. Lewis – “To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.” Mark Twain – “Forgiveness is the fragrance the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it.” M.L. Stedman – “You only have to forgive once. To resent, you have to do it all day, every day.”

 

We all must learn granting forgiveness to those who’ve hurt us most unfairly is, ironically, the most liberating thing we can do for ourselves. Nelson Mandela, upon leaving his unjust confinement of 27 years, said, “As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn’t leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I’d still be in prison.” Sadly, forgiveness like Mandela’s is scarce these days.

 

Millions are imprisoned by their lust for payback and vengeance. But the cross stands as the acme of forgiveness. Forgiving’s usually not easy. Especially when it comes to forgiving a race or group of humans for their ancestors’ atrocities. We must learn revenge is just another form of soul-staining hatred. Only belief in the power of forgiveness can open the gates of heaven.

 

 

 

 

Our Assignment

Often in school the last thing a teacher says before the bell rings is something like “Your assignment is to read chapter 9 and be ready for a quiz.” That unwelcome info is usually met with groans. But the assignment Jesus gave His disciples at the end of His sojourn on earth – evangelize to everyone – should be celebrated by all who love Him. What a privilege we have! It’s a sublime honor to tell folks divine forgiveness and restoration is freely available to all who’ll simply and sincerely believe in Christ!

 

Yet there’s a theological question loitering like an elephant in our kitchen all Christians must find a way to maneuver around: If God is sovereign, having ordained all occurrences before time began, how could it possibly matter if we evangelize or not?

 

Earlier in this series of essays I employed the seldom-used word “antinomy” to describe this dilemma. It’s defined as “a contradiction between two beliefs or conclusions that are, in themselves, reasonable.” That’s what we’ve got here. J.I. Packer wrote, “If we’re biblical in our outlook, we have to make room in our minds for the thoughts of divine sovereignty and of human responsibility to stand side by side. Man is indubitably responsible to God, for God’s the Lawgiver who fixes his duty, and the Judge who takes account of him as to whether or not he’s done it.”

 

One time a Roman centurion begged Jesus to heal his servant. Jesus said, “Sure thing, lead the way.” The humble officer declined because he felt unworthy to let Him darken his Gentile door. Instead, he requested Jesus merely speak the words, “be healed”, and it’d be done. He explained, “For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I say to this one, ‘Go’ and he goes, and to another ‘Come’ and he comes, and to my slave ‘Do this’ and he does it” (Matthew 8:9). Jesus commended the centurion to the crowd for his extraordinary faith and his servant was healed instantly.

 

In any army it’s imperative orders given by superiors be carried out without question. If not, the whole organization collapses into anarchy. Therefore, unwavering obedience is vital. Soldiers have to trust that the officers in charge know what they’re doing and are focused on achieving the objective at hand. The private can’t see what the General sees. Being one of Christ’s recruits is no different.

 

Most baby boomers my age grew up in the era of the Selective Service draft when the government could “choose” you to join the country’s armed forces. Paul wrote that God “…predestined us to adoption as his sons through Jesus Christ, according to the pleasure of his will…” (Ephesians 1:5). In verse 9 He called God’s will a “mystery” and in verse 11 stated, “In him [Christ] we were also chosen… according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will.” In essence, Christians have been “conscripted” into God’s militia and, for those who serve with honor, He’s generously prepared heavenly rewards beyond description.

 

Recently I read in Esther about how God, behind the scenes, was making sure His chosen race of people, the Jews, wouldn’t get snuffed out in Persia. Queen Esther’s uncle Mordecai informed her it was her responsibility to stop it from happening. He said, “If you keep quiet at this time, liberation and protection for the Jews will appear from another source…” (Esther 4:14). I take that to mean that, with you or without you, God’s will will get done, even if it takes His using somebody else to do what you were supposed to do.

 

Still, some get hung up trying to rationalize why God, since He already determined long ago whom He’ll save and whom He won’t, insists His children evangelize. We can’t disavow the fact the Bible presents the uncompromised sovereignty of God without apology or explanation (other than “That’s how it is”). Yet many Christians can’t accept that truth and, therefore, feel obligated to marginalize that sticky aspect of God’s character in order to boost their church’s attendance stats and win souls.

 

This issue has created a split between those who believe God’s absolutely sovereign and those who believe His sovereignty is somehow limited. Now, Satan loves any division within the Body of Christ. He tempts the former to be indignant and overly critical of modern-day evangelical methods while goading the latter to downplay God’s “proclivity to predestinate” as being outdated, primitive dogma that only drives potential believers away from saving grace.

 

Sadly, both groups tend to become self-righteous, uncompassionate and downright bitter in their attitude towards each other. Both think they’re more enlightened than “those folks.” Paul wrote, “Guard against self-deception, each of you. If someone among you thinks he’s wise in this age, let him become foolish so he can become wise. For the wisdom of this age is foolishness with God” (1 Corinthians 3:18-19).

 

Frederick Buechner wrote, “Jesus said, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God,’ and in the end every word that proceeds from the mouth of God is the same word, and the word is Christ Himself. And in the end that’s the vocation, the calling of all of us, the calling to be Christs. To be Christs in whatever way we’re able to be. To be Christs with whatever gladness we have and in whatever place, among whatever brothers we’re called to. That’s the vocation, the destiny to which we were all of us called even before the foundations of the world.”

 

All questions are answered in God’s Word. Even the antinomy of God’s sovereign rule and the assignment Jesus gave to all of us blessed to follow, worship and serve Him – to make disciples the whole world over and teach them how to live in a way that glorifies the Heavenly Father who created them. We should spend less time questioning and more time obeying.

Why Evangelize?

Better to ask, “What’s our motivation?” It’s no secret things done in a lackadaisical manner produce less-than-optimum results. The same’s true for witnessing our faith. Therefore, our foremost impetus for evangelizing must be an overwhelming love for God and a sincere desire to glorify Him. Jesus preached, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind” and “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Then He added the discussion-ending caveat, “All the law and the prophets depend on these two commandments” (Matthew 22:37-40).

 

How do we know if we truly love the Lord? Jesus supplied the answer. “The person who has my commandments and obeys them is the one who loves me” (John 14:21). There you have it. Couldn’t be plainer. As with everything Christ told His disciples, His words apply to those who’ve followed Him ever since. He commanded us in no uncertain terms to carry the gospel message to everyone we can.

 

Fact is, we honor God when we evangelize, not only because we’re obeying Him but because we’re spreading the awesome news of the extraordinarily generous things He’s done for sinners. The Bible says, “Sing to the LORD! Praise his name! Announce every day how he delivers! Tell the nations about his splendor! Tell all the nations about his amazing deeds!” (Psalm 96:2-3). When we share our testimony of redemption with an unbeliever, we glorify God in the best way possible.

 

The exhortation to “Love your neighbor as yourself” is as strong a motivation to evangelize as loving God is. Born-again Christians should be overflowing with a love that compels us to make the most of every opportunity we get to convince the lost that, without Jesus, they have nothing. What greater good can we accomplish this side of heaven than to present to others the soul-saving knowledge of Christ?

 

Interesting to note that in Luke, after Jesus informed the puffed-up “religious expert” what the two greatest commandments are, His snarky inquisitor asked, “And who is my neighbor?” Our Savior responded with His infamous parable of the “Good Samaritan” wherein He revealed anyone in need is our neighbor and deserving of our help. And what are so many of our modern-day neighbors in need of most? – the everlasting hope only Christ can provide.

 

Think of it this way. If I discovered a cure for cancer but selfishly kept it to myself that’d be incredibly cruel. The gospel’s no different. Having experienced God’s amazing grace that healed my wicked heart, restored my marriage and rescued me from the hell of my own making, I can’t help but eagerly tell others about what Christ will do in their life if only they’ll believe and trust in Him. To harbor any other attitude would expose me as a pseudo-Christian who’s only trying to impress gullible folks with my pride-filled “religiosity.”

 

J.I. Packer wrote, “It’s a tragic and ugly thing when Christians lack desire, and are actually reluctant, to share the precious knowledge they have with others whose need of it is just as great as their own.” Don’t we realize what an immense privilege it is to announce to the world Jesus Christ, the only solution to hatred, discrimination, despair and injustice? It should be a genuine joy to do so.

 

But too often the devil sneaks in with his despicable lies. He’ll whisper in our ear we’ll be labeled a closed-minded “Jesus Freak”, an ultra-legalistic oddball nobody will want to associate with, an uptight party-pooper who’ll never be “cool.” In other words, Satan attacks our fragile ego where it’s most vulnerable. Only by wearing “the armor of God” will we be able to withstand his assault and love our neighbor as ourselves no matter the persecution it may bring upon us.

 

Now, am I suggesting we all become street-corner preachers? No way. Not all of us are blessed with a magnetic personality that makes people want to hear and heed what we have to say. (Not me. I failed miserably at retail salesmanship. I’ll stick to writing.) Yet there’s not a Christian alive who can’t actively pray for the salvation of the unconverted, especially when they’re our family members, friends and coworkers. Prayer’s the mightiest weapon we have. Bar none.

 

We pray God grants us a golden opportunity to reach a lost soul with the gospel at the precise time they’re most amenable to accepting it. On top of that, we pray God will give us the courage to seize that fleeting moment and speak His truth with confidence and purpose in order to plant a seed of faith in their heart God can cultivate and nurture. We should ache to be given that chance.

 

Lest we get lazy and figure we don’t need to evangelize (since God already appointed His “elect” before time began, you know) it’s worthwhile to ponder what theologians refer to as primary and secondary causes. R.C. Sproul explained, “God, and God alone, is the sole primary cause in the universe. Secondary causes are not, however, imaginary or impotent. They exert real causal power. We make real choices. Yet a secondary cause is always dependent on the primary cause, God Himself, for its efficacy.”

 

He went on to say, “God brings to pass His sovereign will through or by means of secondary causes. ‘By means of’ is another way of saying God ordains not only the ends, but also the means to those ends.” In layman’s terms, we, filthy sinners though we are, are the literal means by which God’s sovereign will gets completed! To me, that’s both astonishing and humbling.

 

Above all, we must never forget Christ-inspired love is the vital key to evangelism, not how smart, eloquent or persuasive we are. Paul wrote, “If I have prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so that I can remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:2). Be God’s something. You and I are His means.

The Light of the World

Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. The one who follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). Christians treasure that comforting promise. His light of righteousness is the only hope our fallen orb and its sinful inhabitants have for finding genuine peace and contentment. Believers look to Him for guidance through the valley of death.

 

Yet many ignore what Jesus boldly announced in His sermon on the mount. He said, “You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill can’t be hidden. People don’t light a lamp and put it under a basket but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before people, so that they can see your good deeds and give honor to your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16). I shamefully confess I hide the light of the gospel message behind my pride way too often. Do you?

 

In essence, Jesus not only confirmed He’s the light of the world but that we are, too. Thus, we have a serious responsibility. It’s not incorrect to say we’re to be human lighthouses, reflecting the glory of Christ outward into the suffocating darkness that engulfs the populace, leading them to the safe, secure harbor that is the kingdom of God. It’s no coincidence that Jesus uttered His remarkable statement right after He preached His famous “Blessed are those…” verses. We are to be a blessing to civilization as a whole.

 

Dallas Willard wrote, “Blessing is the projection of good into the life of another. It isn’t just words. It always involves God, because when you will the good of another person, you realize only God is capable of bringing that.” There’s no higher compliment you can receive than to be told you’ve been a blessing to someone.

 

“Letting your love light shine” may not come naturally or instinctively to you. Charles Spurgeon wrote, “Shyness may be lovely at times, and to hide one’s self is undoubtedly modest – but hiding Christ within us can never be justified. Keeping back the truth which is precious to ourselves is a sin against others and an offense against God. Therefore, speak the praise of Jesus in your house, if not in the church building; in the field, if not in the marketplace; in the midst of your own family, if not within the great family of humanity. To speak for God will be refreshing to ourselves, encouraging to saints, useful to sinners, and honoring to the Savior.”

 

God has informed us the best words to use when blessing others: “The LORD bless you and protect you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace” (Numbers 6:24-26). No one could ask for more.

 

As I wrap up this series of blogs dealing with the many aspects of “discipleship” (I realize I barely scratched the surface) I want to make it clear that being chosen to broadcast Jesus’ atoning grace is the greatest honor any human being can have bestowed on them this side of heaven. Larry Crabb wrote, “We’re not mere mortals, with a chance beginning and a chance ending and a flurry of pointless activity in between. We’re meaningful players in a cosmic drama, intended to know that more is going on beyond what we can see. God has ‘set eternity’ in our hearts, and although we can’t fathom ‘…what God has done from beginning to end’ (Ecclesiastes 3:11), we sense that the events of life are heading somewhere and we can get on board or stay seated on the bench.”

 

To that I say, “Put me in, coach.”

 

Honestly, though, it’s my cynical heart that prevents me from being a more effective disciple of my Savior. I see all too vividly the wickedness of secular society and its ever-quickening plunge into immorality. Yet, through studying the Bible, I know it’s all been foretold. It comes as no shock. The problem is it makes me feel helpless to do anything to prevent our planet’s steady march towards Armageddon.

 

No doubt the early Christians felt they were up against a similar onslaught of pure evil, too. However, they didn’t let it stop them from beaming their light of hope into the darkness – and neither should I. I’ve been chosen by the Father to be a living, breathing blessing to everyone I encounter and He’s given me the ability to do that. Therefore, I pray I become less discouraged/disheartened by what I’m seeing and more obedient to what He’s instructed me to do for Him.

 

I reiterate. Jesus said we’re the light of the world. We’re the torch-bearers of truth. We illuminate the way for lost souls to find Christ. Our Lord didn’t ask us if we wanted that job. He’s already hoisted it onto our shoulders. It’s our mission. The faith necessary will come if we trust God has declared us up to the challenge.

 

Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote, “The actual call of Jesus and the response of single-minded obedience have an irrevocable significance. By means of them Jesus calls people into an actual situation where faith is possible. For that reason, His call’s an actual call and He wishes it so to be understood, because He knows it’s only through actual obedience that a person can become liberated to believe.”

 

Remember, Jesus never promised us a rose garden. On the contrary, there’s a price to pay for the privilege of working for Him. He said, “Whoever does not carry his own cross and follow me cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:27). Good Friday reminds us how steep that price really is. It’s gonna get rough soon enough. He warned, “Don’t think I’ve come to bring peace to the earth. I’ve not come to bring peace but a sword” (Matthew 10:34). His disciples had best be shining their lights.